SkyDrive builds three‑passenger electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for short‑range urban air mobility. Its SD‑05 uses a compact double‑inverted propeller and patented dome rotor design to achieve low noise (<65 dB) and operate from rooftop or plaza “vertical airports.” The platform includes certified avionics, automated flight‑control and integration tools for mobility operators, airlines and municipal transport agencies.
Funding
$57.5M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
MBFounders
Product
Problem
Urban commuters face increasing traffic congestion and limited fast point‑to‑point transport options, while existing air mobility solutions require large airports and extensive infrastructure, restricting accessibility within dense city environments. Regulatory approval for new aerial vehicles is also a bottleneck, delaying commercial deployment of safe, low‑noise electric aircraft.
Solution
SkyDrive designs and manufactures electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft specifically for urban air mobility, targeting short‑range, high‑frequency trips. Its flagship SD‑05 model seats three passengers and uses a compact double‑inverted propeller architecture that delivers sufficient lift in a minimal airframe footprint. Proprietary dome‑shaped rotor frames and curved rotor placement reduce acoustic signature and improve aerodynamic efficiency, enabling operation from small “vertical airports” that can be installed on rooftops, parking structures, or city plazas. The company is pursuing type certification with Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, positioning the aircraft for immediate commercial entry once approvals are secured. An integrated flight‑control system provides automated take‑off, landing, and route management while maintaining compliance with aviation safety standards. Demonstration flights at Expo 2025 in Osaka showcase real‑world performance and validate the aircraft’s readiness for city‑scale deployment.
Target Audience
Primary customers are urban mobility operators, regional airlines, and municipal transportation agencies seeking to add short‑range aerial shuttle services, as well as private ride‑hailing platforms that require scalable, low‑noise air transport solutions.
Features
- Electric propulsion with high‑power density batteries delivering up to 30 minutes of flight time per charge.
- Double‑inverted propeller configuration that enables a compact airframe while providing robust lift for three‑passenger payloads.
- Patented dome rotor frame and curved rotor geometry that lower noise levels to under 65 dB(A) at ground level.
- Modular landing gear and attachment points designed for rapid integration with vertical airport pads and existing urban infrastructure.
- Redundant flight‑control computer with real‑time health monitoring and automated emergency landing capabilities.
- Certification‑grade avionics meeting both Japanese and FAA type‑certification requirements.
- Ground‑to‑air communication suite supporting remote monitoring, over‑the‑air updates, and integration with city traffic‑management platforms.